Nachträglichkeit and psychoanalytic creativity

ABSTRACT

This article sheds light on the concept of Nachträglichkeit as a basic psychoanalytic concept that not only contributes to the explanation of the dynamic evolution of traumatization but also may serve as a basic concept in the understanding of the creativity inherent in the transformative process towards curative psychic change. We will argue 1) that Freud’s concept of Nachträglichkeit can be seen in a broader perspective than as a way to understanding only the mechanism of the trauma. This will be done through a presentation of some fundamental and more recent viewpoints and interpretations of the concept; 2) that the concept of Nachträglichkeit as a complex dynamic causality of proactive and retroactive processes is a basic concept in the understanding of psychoanalytic practice as such; 3) that the dynamics of the curative effects of the psychoanalytic process may rely on the analyst’s ability to include conscious and unconscious creativity in the work with the repetitive aspects of Nachträglichkeit.

KEYWORDS:

• Nachträglichkeit
• deferred action
• après-coup
• trauma
• creativity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

Bertil Wennborgs Stiftelse. A grateful thank you to Bertil Wennborgs Stiftelse for supporting the work with this article.

Notes on contributors

Emil Dalsgaard Larsen

Emil Dalsgaard Larsen is a clinical psychologist working in the Danish NGO TUBA providing therapy for young adults who grew up in families with alcohol or drug problems. He is a candidate in the Danish Psychoanalytical Society.

Bent Rosenbaum

Bent Rosenbaum. Psychiatrist, DMSci., Psychiatric Center Copenhagen.Training and supervising Psychoanalyst (Danish Psychoanalytical Society).Professor emeritus, Institute of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.